|
|
By
John Wilson
It is easy to say that it has not been a very good month for Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian manufacturer of popular BlackBerry mobile devices. First, RIM's first ever touch-screen phone with BlackBerry's newest OS update, the BlackBerry Torch, debuts to middling reviews. Then, numbers released by research firm NPD show Android phones ahead in market share for the first time. But the most glaring problem, and the one that may seal BlackBerry's fate, is the growing unrest in the Middle East aimed at BlackBerry.
A Growing Problem
On August first, the United Arab Emirates announced a proposed suspension of RIM's email and instant messaging services, with an October deadline, citing security concerns over the encrypted network used by BlackBerry handsets. Similar shutdown threats were soon announced by Saudi Arabia and India, while an even longer list of countries admitted they were considering making the same demands. All of the countries wanted one thing: full access to BlackBerry's network.
Interestingly, it is the Middle East's own security issues that have led to this latest round of “security concerns” for BlackBerry.
The Indian government has claimed that the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which left 173 dead, were coordinated using BlackBerry handsets.
|
|
Many players in the West would see any concessions from BlackBerry as a blow to democracy. |
|
Unanswered Questions
It is no secret that many Middle Eastern governments have had long and combative relationships with their citizen's own right to privacy. The information age has given rise to a boom in political activism and organization in the Middle East, facilitated by internet enabled mobile devices. Authoritarian regimes in the region have repeatedly attempted to inhibit the political use of internet technologies and the fear is that some governments would use any access to BlackBerry's email and messaging services to spy on their own people and quash political dissent. Many players in the West would see any concessions from BlackBerry as a blow to democracy.
|
|
|
|
|
In January of this year, Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was assassinated in a Dubai hotel room; again, rumors swirled that the assassins had used BlackBerry phones. The assassination is said to have led directly to the U.A.E.'s ultimatum. The reasoning goes that by accessing the encrypted network, concerned governments could more easily track down and prosecute suspected criminals and terrorists. There remain two unanswered questions; can these governments be trusted with this data? And, if so, is it even technically possible to give it to them?
|
|
The U.A.E.'s initial challenge set off a flurry of negotiations between, and press releases from, BlackBerry and the governments of the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and India. The Saudis and India backed off on their initial threats after reportedly making progress in talks with RIM. For its part, RIM denies any cooperation. Adding to the confusion is the persistent rumor that RIM routinely grants Western and European governments access to any data they require. RIM has repeatedly denied these claims, but Middle Eastern governments remain unconvinced. But even if RIM did decide to cooperate, it remains to be seen if it is even technologically feasible.
|
|
|
